Tech consultancy Opencast has expanded into its new Newcastle headquarters as it seeks to welcome scores of new staff members.
Earlier this year the company announced plans to create 200 new jobs to take its workforce to 500 by the end of 2022, triggering the need for more office space alongside its three new city hubs in London, Leeds and Edinburgh.
Now the firm has unveiled the transformation of The Kiln at Hoults Yard in Byker, which has been converted into the company’s new head office by Newcastle-based Xsite Architecture and Studio KIND.
Opencast, which specialises in designing, building and running digital and technology solutions, involved staff in the creation of the new office, as well as local artists and companies, to create the finished look.
Adrian Philpotts, lead architect on the project for Xsite, said: “Right at the heart of the project was really understanding the needs of all staff. We did this in in collaboration with Opencast through a series of research and focus groups to understand how each team worked, as well as their collective needs and priorities.
“With Opencast being a technology company, it was important for us to create an environment that would encourage and support conversation, collaboration and agile working. It was also important to have a space that was inviting, comfortable and tactile to appeal to the senses and contrast with the tools of their trade.”
The project’s interior designer, Karen Nairstone at Studio KIND, said: “The social spaces in the Opencast HQ from reception to the kitchen and events space have a coffee bar and hospitality feel with textured materials, scalloped wood walls and large reclaimed farmhouse tables adding personality and interest. Working with local creatives has been a key part of the design with bespoke furniture by Deadgood Ltd, fabrics by David Irwin for Bute, and ceramics by Victoria Brook – all based in Byker’s Ouseburn valley.”
Sheena Widdowfield, head of learning and culture at Opencast said: “The design here has become part of Opencast’s DNA. It has helped provide the perfect home for our people to collaborate and socialise, which contributes to the growth of our culture in tune with the Opencast way of doing things.”
The move into the new head office comes after Opencast was ranked at number 19 on the list of the 100 ‘Most Loved Workplaces’ list published by Newsweek. The 2022 UK Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces list is the result of Newsweek’s collaboration with the Best Practice Institute, a leadership development and benchmark research company.
Opencast chief people officer Cate Kalson added: “We are especially pleased to have had recognition from the institute for our focus on inclusion and belonging. We work hard to ensure that there is respect for all, that all our people’s voices are heard and valued.
“Opencast is steadily creating a more diverse workforce. We have designed our recruitment processes around our inclusive values. Opencast now employs people from more than 32 different nationalities across the business – nearly double the number of nationalities in 2021. In the past 12 months, we have also increased the proportion of our female workforce by a quarter.”
